Parentopolis

So I never really wrote much about my parents coming to visit me. So here it goes. A readers digest version of the wonderful couple of days I got to see them here in DC.

I had to work a few days while they were here but we still snuck in some good sight seeing and

some great family dinners.

On Sunday after getting some decent sleep we got up and headed down to see if we could get tickets to go through Ford's Theater and see some Smithsonians. We managed to score some tickets to the Theater and while we were waiting we went to the National Archives which was cool since it was something I actually hadn't even done/seen here yet. We then did our Ford's Theater tour which has been on my to-do list forever and it did not disappoint! From there we headed to the Portrait gallery, at a bit of lunch and then headed back to my apartment to get my car to go see the Jefferson and then headed to Old Town to see my old 'hood and grab dinner at the Fish Market (Yum lobster pasta!) Dad had a scooner of beer which was pretty amazing.

Monday I had to work but met up with my parents in the evening for dinner at Potenza which was absolutely delish.
Tuesday the parents did some marathon sight seeing while I was at work and then we met up at the Brickskeller where I had the most amazing beer that I have ever put in contact with my lips. More of a desert but this beer was epic!

Wednesday I took the day off to spend some quality time with mom and dad and we fit in a ton! First we went out to the new air and space museum out by Dulles airport which was really fun.




After air and space we headed to Arlington National Cemetery.

We then trucked up to the National Cathedral which I had not seen since my adventures to DC way back in High School, so it was neat to see it again. I forgot what a stunning cathedral it is.

After the Cathedral we even made it over the White House- AND saw BO! Yes we got to see Bo Obama frolic around the south lawn. After the White House we had dinner at Founding Farmers (which I am sure you are all familiar with now as being one of my favorite places to eat in DC) and then took a night-time tour of my office before heading back to their hotel after a marathon of a day.

Sadly we had to say goodbye and the parents headed back to be parents to the poodle who I am sure was antsy without them! But we had a great trip and I am so glad they made it out here while I am living in DC!

Weekend Re-cap and I Am Getting Old

Today was awful! I managed to pull a muscle in my neck/back leaving for work this morning (gah-can we say old age setting in?) and was in more pain than I could really manage all day. I also just had zero desire to be at work today and just felt off- with little ability to really focus and get into anything I was working on. I managed to get things done between the pain and my wandering thoughts but my prayers tonight are to help heal my neck/back quickly and to give me a renewed sense of drive and motivation to really make some progress at work.

This weekend was the perfect blend of busy vs. relaxing. On Friday night I had a relaxing evening in and made some yummy chicken and rice followed by a dab of ice cream.

Saturday I got to go out to my bosses house and celebrate her daughter's first birthday. I have to say I was so impressed with this party. There was a moon-bounce, face painting, awesome kids food (we are talking home made mac n' cheese, mini sandwiches, peanut butter and celery, chicken nuggets, and capri sun, oh and some beer :) ). I had a ton of fun as my bosses family are some of the most amazing people and have really taken me under their wing since I started working with her. Later that night I made Erin's famous artichoke linguine and watched "An Education" which I have been waiting for on my netflix for awhile. Good movie, but not as great as I was hoping it to be.

Check out that cake!!
The birthday girl rocking her awesome new fuzzy pink cheetah print slippers. She was a hoot!

Sunday I met up with Brooke who had some peeps in town visiting and we went to a Nats game. I am seriously going to miss Brooke more than words can express, but am excited for her to be able to start the next chapter of her life in Seattle.

Sunday night I enjoyed a relaxing dinner out and then dealt with some life. Friends (especially Seattle people- thank you for helping me get through that moment- you are all amazing!)

Shopping List

So a few things I have on my "need to purchase/budget" for:

1) A bed. As it is right now my ridiculously comfortable bed just hangs out on my floor, thank goodness it came with a box spring! But after many months of contemplating...I think this is the final decision:

Photo: Ikea.com

2) New Laptop- My parents gave me some money for Christmas and I just have had a lack of commitment to purchase this guy:

Digging the white. Just need to have some commitment to press the "purchase" button.

Photo: HP.com

3) The Wonderbar

I am a little nervous to spend $40 on this, BUT due to some of my allergies to certain prescriptions I am about to break down and see if the Wonderbar is really a "wonder". All the reviews RAVE about it, so I believe this would be a solid $40 spent. I am sure I will write a review once I make the plunge!

Photo: Culturemap.com

Heard & Seen: UrbanGrace

4) This jacket from American Apparel

With a pair of black leggings and my new headband. Excellent

Letters to a Young Poet

I stumbled upon this today:

Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart.

Try to love the questions themselves,

like locked rooms and like books written in a foreign language.

Do not now look for the answers.

They cannot now be given to you because you could not live them.

It is a question of experiencing everything.

At present you need to live the question.

Perhaps you will gradually,

without even noticing it,

find yourself experiencing the answer,

some distant day.

Letters to a Young Poet

-Rainer Maria Rilke

I don't want to say much more, since I feel like I might ruin it. But I read this and I just stopped and realized that I am clinging so desperately to making sure I have the "answers" and really I am leeching the enjoyment out of life be feeling like I have to be in control and know exactly what is going to happen. I love these beautiful words.

Unsettling

I woke up at 5:30am this morning, couldn't go back to sleep, feel totally nauseous/jittery/nervous/anxious/restless/blah. I finally said enough of laying there and feeling like my heart was going to jump out of my chest. So we are showered, attempting to enjoy a bowl of cereal and a glass of juice but so far I just feel sick to my stomach.

Could someone tell me what my problem is!??! (If any of you remember the epic baby flu of 2008 that I had- I oddly feel a bit like I did the morning that the terrible on-set of that hit me)

I know that this is emotionally manifested and I am in no way going to have baby flu relapse 2 years later, but I just feel icky this morning.

Some prayers/crossed fingers/good energy sent my way today would be greatly appreciated.

In other news, Carly and I have been having a great time together and I am sad to see her go today. It is strange when the old world and the new worlds of my life come together and they feel like such separate things but then in front of my own eyes I see them mix and mingle- and its just a little-- unexpected. But I will post some news later on our fun adventures- bus tours-eating-drinking-and anything else I missed.